If you are a freshman, majoring in Computer Science, and you favor Mac OS X over Windows as a platform where to develop your applications, the choice won’t be less difficult than if you were to pick a Windows PC.
First of all, your device of choice must be light enough to carry around campus, and with minimal need for external accessories. While a 15 inch MacBook Pro has the specs to work comfortably with most applications required by your curriculum, chances are it will be a rather cumbersome task to lug it around from one class to the next.
On the other hand, going with a 12 inch MacBook Retina may seem like a great idea when thinking portability, but the processing power won’t be nearly enough to bring most coding assignments to completion, as even the 2016 refresh of the MacBook Retina still features the same 1.2GHz CPU as the 2015 model. The other issue with the 12 inch MacBook, is the lack of ports, other than the one USB Type-C, which also serves the purpose of charging the laptop. By this token, going for the 12 inch MacBook Retina will require adapters to add more ports, and to support external drives, often necessary to load applications and to save assignments.
While the footprint of most multiport hubs is minimal, in the long run it can become a burden, and the continuous plugging and unplugging of multiple devices cause quicker wear and tear to the MacBook’s only port.
An ideal compromise is the 13 inch MacBook Pro, which has a relatively low profile, and it’s just as portable as most 13 inch laptops. The specs also fall well within range of what most programming curriculums require, even at its base configuration.
Powered by a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5, the 13 inch model of the MacBook Pro weighs less than three and half pounds, and comes with 128GB SSD storage in its entry level configuration, although it is recommended to get one with at least a 256GB SSD, or 512GB, depending on budget.
The 13 inch MacBook Pro comes with plenty of ports, including two Thunderbolt 2, one HDMI, two USB 3, and an SD card slot.
Wireless connectivity on the 13 inch MacBook Pro comes with AC WiFi support, which comes in handy when working in collaborative environments like GitHub, on a long range Wi-Fi connection across campus.
Another reason to go with a 13 inch model is when thinking long term, beyond college. The typical Mac remains current for a relatively long stretch of its life span, and with plenty older MacBooks still around, a 13 inch MacBook Pro is likely to last well into the first year of employment after graduation from a two-plus year program.
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